Base models come equipped with a 2.5-liter I-5 engine producing 170 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque, and a choice of five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. With the manual transmission, the five-cylinder Passat is EPA-rated at 22/32 mpg city/highway, while the automatic-equipped Passat is rated at 22/31 mpg. A 280-hp, 258-lb-ft 3.6-liter V-6 is offered exclusively with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and achieves 20/28 mpg. For the hyper-miler, there’s the Passat TDI with a 140-hp, 236-lb-ft 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel I-4 and a choice of six-speed dual-clutch or six-speed manual transmission. Models equipped with the former gearbox are rated at 30/40 mpg, while those equipped with the latter achieve 31/43 mpg.

If being picked as our 2012 Car of the Year wasn’t enough, more recently a Volkswagen Passat 2.5 SE came out on top in a six-way midsize sedan comparison
including the Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry. In that comparison, the Passat’s driving dynamics wowed us: “The Passat may not be fast, but it feels happy doing its work, and that’s a much more important ingredient in the driving experience.” Interior packaging was also key to its success, with a cavernous backseat and the most rear legroom in its class. We said, “Very few cars of any size have this much space. Really does feel like an affordable Phaeton.”

The V-6 model, with its steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and 280 hp, allows the Passat’s competent chassis to really shine. “As you can imagine, with 110 more horses and 81 more lb-ft than the base mill, the VR6-packing Passat is a lot more entertaining.” In our tests, the Passat V-6 took 5.7 seconds to hit 60 mph from a standstill. Drivers who want better fuel economy, but still want their Passat to pack some oomph, will likely be happy with the TDI model. When we summed up our time with our long-term 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI, we said, “The TDI received nothing but praise. Big torque, good throttle response, and road trips without fuel stops made it a traveling favorite.”

The Passat seats five, and the aforementioned best-in-class legroom ensures that those five passengers can all be adults. An eight-way adjustable driver’s seat is standard, as are cloth seating surfaces on S models. SE models receive faux-leatherette, while SEL models feature genuine leather upholstery. Bluetooth connectivity and steering wheel audio controls are standard on all models.

The 2013 Volkswagen Passat is one of the few vehicles to be named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, scoring “good” ratings in all categories accept the new small overlap front test, where it received an “acceptable.” NHTSA awarded the Passat a five-star overall rating, with the sedan scoring fives in all categories accept rollover, where it earned four stars.

New for 2013

The Volkswagen Passat was introduced for model-year 2012, and carries over with few changes for 2013. Rear vents are relocated on SE models, and a rearview camera is made standard on the Passat SEL.

Key Competitors

Sum Up

2013 Volkswagen Passat Pricing

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

$22,945

Certified Pre Owned Pricewhat is this?

$11,600

Certified Pre-Owned Price is the approximate price a consumer can expect to pay at a dealership for a used vehicle that has passed the manufacturer's certification process. This price applies only to vehicles covered under an automaker's CPO program, not to a dealership's own "certified" used price.

Recalls

Recall ID#14V125000 - EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Consequence

A loss of low beam headlights may reduce the driver's visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

Recall Date

2014-03-17

Description

Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Passat vehicles manufactured January 2011 through November 2012. In the affected vehicles, the low beam headlight bulb may become loose and lose electrical contact.

Remedy

Volkswagen notified owners, and dealers will replace the bulb holder, free of charge. The recall began in May 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagens recall number associated with this campaign is 94G8/7V.

Units Affected

150201

Recall ID#15V483000 - AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Consequence

A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Recall Date

2015-08-04

Description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.

Units Affected

415825

Recall ID#16V078000 - AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE INFLATOR MODULE

Consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Units Affected

659493

Recall ID#16V171000 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Consequence

An electrical short can cause the electrical connectors of the sensor to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

Recall Date

2016-03-24

Description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Passat vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Due to improperly assembled wire seals in a connector for an underbody sensor, water may enter and corrode the electrical connectors of the sensor, causing an electrical short.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in September. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23T3.

Units Affected

91442

Recall ID#17V309000 - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

Consequence

If the leaking grease contacts a heated surface, such as the exhaust system and/or the diesel particulate filter (DPF), it could increase the risk of fire.

Recall Date

2017-05-11

Description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Passat vehicles, equipped with diesel engines and Direct-Shift Transmissions (DSG). The vehicle's underbody heat shield may not be long enough to protect the right half-shaft grease boot from heat, potentially resulting in a grease leak.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft heat shield, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in July 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23W5.

Units Affected

84262

Recall ID#17V309000 - POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Consequence

If the leaking grease contacts a heated surface, such as the exhaust system and/or the diesel particulate filter (DPF), it could increase the risk of fire.

Recall Date

2017-05-11

Description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Passat vehicles, equipped with diesel engines and Direct-Shift Transmissions (DSG). The vehicle's underbody heat shield may not be long enough to protect the right half-shaft grease boot from heat, potentially resulting in a grease leak.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft heat shield, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in July 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23W5.

2013 Volkswagen Passat News and Reviews

The redesigned 2016 Chevrolet Malibu and 2016 Kia Optima coming to the 2015 New York auto show are going to have some reinvigorated competition when they go on sale by the end of 2015. The 2016 model year could be huge for the still-hot midsize-sedan market, providing consumers a number of new or refreshed options -- or, alternatively, with some…

Despite the fact that automakers such as Volkswagen and GM are utilizing clean diesel technology, Americans still think oil-burners are dirty. Regulators haven't done much to help change consumer perception either, and a VW exec has had enough, reports The Detroit News. At a forum on the future of diesel vehicles, VW expressed its disapproval on the way regulators are…

This month marks two important milestones for the Volkswagen Passat. The car has sold more than 20 million examples worldwide, and July marks the 40th anniversary of the Volkswagen Passat nameplate.The first Volkswagen Passat, dubbed the B1 generation, was related to the Audi 80 and launched in July 1973. It quickly shot to the top of the German car sales…

Volkswagen may bring the luxurious and expensive Phaeton sedan back to the U.S. market next year, according to Bloomberg. The new report says that the Volkswagen Phaeton will be re-introduced at the Detroit auto show, although company officials say otherwise.The first-generation Volkswagen Phaeton was sold here from 2004 to 2006, but it was never much of a success and was…

The 2014 Volkswagen Passat will return much better fuel economy thanks to the addition of a new base engine. A 1.8-liter turbo-four engine replaces the 2.5-liter inline-five as the Passat's entry-level engine this year.The 1.8T engine produces 170 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, which represents an increase of seven lb-ft compared to the outgoing 2.5-liter engine. It will also…